In my first blog, I would like to talk about how companies will use films for mass advertisement. As we discussed in this weeks class, companies will use the film industry to push their products and brands to the general public. I don't typically mind product placement if it's done subtly, though subtlety isn't what advertisers want. When movies plan for product placements in scripts and will try altering or adding scenes specifically for the purpose of advertising, it can become pretty sickening. The thing is, though, most of us wouldn't know when or how much this goes on.
I know that in almost every movie I can remember watching, their is some product that will be referenced to or show up multiple times within the length of the movie. This is fine, I understand that without these companies sponsoring the movie they would not be possible, so it makes sense to use their products in the films. There are many different examples of this, I will name just a few: GM Automobiles in Transformers, Sony electronics in 2012, Converse in I Robot, Cadillac in The Matrix movies, even older movies such as Spaceballs that showcased Mercedes Benz and Audi on the front of the vehicles, or the numerous Coca Cola references in Back to the Future.
As i said before, this happens in almost every movie made but is a hidden fact within film. So the next time you watch a movie, try to keep in mind this advertising trick and see if you can't spot it out yourself. It is a different way of viewing a movie and gives a better understanding of the different ways that a company can push a product to stay ahead of the competition.
